Advanced payment options for powered cards and devices

ABSTRACT

Advanced payment applications are provided to improve the functionality of cards and devices. For example, a user interface may be placed on a card (e.g., a physical button) or a telephonic device (e.g., a virtual button on a capacitive touch screen). Manual input provided to this user interface may, for example, cause an item purchased on credit to be paid via one or more user accounts (e.g., bank accounts) as soon as the next credit statement posts or becomes due. A user may decide to pay for an item when the next statement becomes due at a point-of-sale magnetic stripe reader by using an interface on a card to cause information to be communicated through the infrastructure indicative of a user&#39;s desire to pay the for an item when the next statement becomes due.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/908,050, filed on Oct. 20, 2010, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/253,249, titled “Advanced PaymentOptions for Powered Cards and Devices,” filed Oct. 20, 2009, each ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to magnetic cards and devices and associatedpayment systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A card may include a dynamic magnetic communications device. Such adynamic magnetic communications device may take the form of a magneticencoder or a magnetic emulator. A magnetic encoder may change theinformation located on a magnetic medium such that a magnetic stripereader may read changed magnetic information from the magnetic medium. Amagnetic emulator may generate electromagnetic fields that directlycommunicate data to a magnetic stripe reader. Such a magnetic emulatormay communicate data serially to a read-head of the magnetic stripereader.

All, or substantially all, of the front as well as the back of a cardmay be a display (e.g., bi-stable, non bi-stable, LCD, LED, orelectrochromic display). Electrodes of a display may be coupled to oneor more capacitive touch sensors such that a display may be provided asa touch-screen display. Any type of touch-screen display may beutilized. Such touch-screen displays may be operable of determiningmultiple points of touch. Accordingly, a barcode may be displayed acrossall, or substantially all, of a surface of a card. In doing so, computervision equipment such as barcode readers may be less susceptible toerrors in reading a displayed barcode.

A card may include a number of output devices to output dynamicinformation. For example, a card may include one or more RFIDs or ICchips to communicate to one or more RFID readers or IC chip readers,respectively. A card may include devices to receive information. Forexample, an RFID and IC chip may both receive information andcommunicate information to an RFID and IC chip reader, respectively. Adevice for receiving wireless information signals may be provided. Alight sensing device or sound sensing device may be utilized to receiveinformation wirelessly. A card may include a central processor thatcommunicates data through one or more output devices simultaneously(e.g., an RFID, IC chip, and a dynamic magnetic stripe communicationsdevice). The central processor may receive information from one or moreinput devices simultaneously (e.g., an RFID, IC chip, dynamic magneticstripe devices, light sensing device, and a sound sensing device). Aprocessor may be coupled to surface contacts such that the processor myperform the processing capabilities of, for example, an EMV chip. Theprocessor may be laminated over and not exposed such that such aprocessor is not exposed on the surface of the card.

A card may be provided with a button in which the activation of thebutton causes a code to be communicated through a dynamic magneticstripe communications device (e.g., the subsequent time a read-headdetector on the card detects a read-head). The code may be indicative ofa user's desire to pay for a purchase immediately when the user's nextperiodic credit card statement is available (e.g., at the next monthlycredit card statement). An online service may be provided that allows auser to indicate categories of purchases and/or specific purchases uponwhich payment will be made as soon as the next credit card statement isavailable.

A card may be provided with a button associated with a code indicativeof placing an associated purchase into an installment payment plan. Thefirst installment may be due at the next due date. An online service(e.g., website) may be provided that allows a user to review previouscredit card purchases and/or categories of credit card purchases anddefine installment payment plans for such purchases. Different buttonsmay be utilized to communicate different codes associated with differenttypes of installment plans (e.g., one button may be 3 equal installmentsover the next 3 months while another button may be 6 equal installmentsover the next 6 months).

A card may be provided with a button associated with a code indicativeof paying the most recent credit card bill for a user. Accordingly, atany time, a user may pay his/her credit card bill without having to use,for example, an online service (e.g., log into a webpage).

A card may be provided with a button associated with a code indicativeof a request for information associated with an alert update feature.Such information may include, for example, synchronization informationsuch that internal timing circuitry may be resynchronized. An alert maybe pre-programmed into a card, for example, that is indicative of thetimes when bills will be due for a credit card statement (e.g., thefirst of every month). Accordingly, an information receiver (e.g., alight-based information receiver) may receive information after an alertupdate feature button is pressed (e.g., to resynchronize a clock on acard). A clock internal to the card may indicate to a user that a billis due based on this received (or pre-set information). Such an alertmay take the form of, for example, the activation of an LED (e.g., ablinking LED) or the presence of particular indicia (e.g., alertindicia) on a display of a card. A card may be preprogrammed with aparticular day of a month (e.g., 6^(th) of every month) and a user maypress a button to view this payment date on a card.

A card may be provided with a button associated with a code indicativeof paying for a purchase using rewards points and/or rewards cash.Accordingly, for example, a user may select a button on the card toindicate that rewards are to be used to complete a particulartransaction (e.g., point-of-sale transaction) rather than some otheraccount type (e.g., credit or debit) that may otherwise be used tocomplete the transaction.

A card and/or one or more accounts associated with a card may beassociated with a card holder's mobile communication device (e.g.,mobile phone). Accordingly, for example, a user may opt to receiveconfirmations (e.g., text message updates) once a payment option isselected.

Once a text confirmation of the selected payment option is received, auser may alter the originally selected payment option. For example, aconfirmation of the selected payment option may provide the user with anability to change the originally selected payment option to yet anotherpayment option (e.g., change from an originally selected rewards pointspayment option to an installment payment option).

A user's mobile device may be linked to the user's purchases after atransaction has been conducted. Targeted advertisements (e.g., discountcoupon offers), for example, may be sent to the user's mobile phone inresponse to a single purchase or a pattern of multiple purchases.

A user's mobile communication device may execute one or moreapplications that may be linked with a user's card and/or one or moreaccounts associated with a user's card. In so doing, a user'sinteraction with his or her card may be tailored to the user'spreferences via mobile applications that may be executing on the user'smobile device. For example, a user may request (e.g., via a mobiledevice application) that text confirmations be sent to the user's mobiledevice upon selection of a particular payment option. Further, a usermay request (e.g., via a mobile device application) that choices beprovided to the user upon selection of certain payment options (e.g., aninstallment payment plan may default to three monthly payments, but theuser may be given the opportunity to change the plan to six monthlypayments at the user's discretion).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The principles and advantages of the present invention can be moreclearly understood from the following detailed description considered inconjunction with the following drawings, in which the same referencenumerals denote the same structural elements throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of cards constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a mobile device constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a mobile device constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a mobile device constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a mobile device constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows card 100 that may include, for example, a dynamic numberthat may be entirely, or partially, displayed via display 112. A dynamicnumber may include a permanent portion such as, for example, permanentportion 111. Permanent portion 111 may be printed as well as embossed orlaser etched on card 100. Multiple displays may be provided on a card.For example, display 113 may be utilized to display a dynamic code suchas a dynamic security code. Display 125 may also be provided to displaylogos, barcodes, as well as multiple lines of information. A display maybe a bi-stable display or non bi-stable display. Permanent information120 may also be included and may include information such as informationspecific to a user (e.g., a user's name or username) or informationspecific to a card (e.g., a card issue date and/or a card expirationdate). Card 100 may include one or more buttons such as buttons 130-134.Such buttons may be mechanical buttons, capacitive buttons, or acombination or mechanical and capacitive buttons.

Card 100 may include button 199. Button 199 may be used, for example, tocommunicate information through dynamic magnetic stripe communicationsdevice 101 indicative of a user's desire to pay for an item on credit,but to debit the credit account for the amount from a user's bankaccount when the next credit statement posts (or the subsequent creditstatement posts and the associated bill is due). Persons skilled in theart will appreciate that pressing a button (e.g., button 199) may causeinformation to be communicated through device 101 when an associatedread-head detector detects the presence of a read-head of a magneticstripe reader.

Card 100 may include button 197. Button 197 may be used, for example, tocommunicate information through dynamic magnetic stripe communicationsdevice 101 indicative of a user's desire to pay for an item usingrewards points and/or rewards cash.

Button 198 may be utilized to communicate (e.g., after button 198 ispressed and after a read-head detects a read-head of a reader)information indicative of a user's desire to divide payment for thepurchase over installments. A card may include a default number ofinstallments (or a set dollar amount of installments such as $100). Auser may change this default installment number of dollar amount onlinevia an online website. Similarly, multiple buttons may be provided on acard and each button may be associated with a different installmentoption (e.g., 3 installments, 6 installments, and/or $100 installments).

Usage of buttons 197, 198, and/or 199 may be linked at the user's optionto the user's mobile device (e.g., mobile phone, laptop, or PDA) uponissuance of card 100 to the user. Text messages, for example, may becommunicated to a user's mobile phone to confirm selection of aparticular payment option. In addition, a user may be provided with anopportunity to modify or cancel a previously selected payment option viaa text messaging sequence that may be initiated through a payment optionselected by pressing any one or more of buttons 197-199.

Architecture 150 may be utilized with any card. Architecture 150 mayinclude processor 120. Processor 120 may have on-board memory forstoring information (e.g., application code). Any number of componentsmay communicate to processor 120 and/or receive communications fromprocessor 120. For example, one or more displays (e.g., display 140) maybe coupled to processor 120. Persons skilled in the art will appreciatethat components may be placed between particular components andprocessor 120. For example, a display driver circuit may be coupledbetween display 140 and processor 120.

Memory 142 may be coupled to processor 120. Memory 142 may include datathat is unique to a particular card. For example, memory 142 may storediscretionary data codes associated with buttons of card 150. Such codesmay be recognized by remote servers to effect particular actions. Forexample, a code may be stored on memory 142 that causes a user-definedinstallment plan to be setup for the purchase on a remote server (e.g.,a remote server coupled to a card issuer's website). Memory 142 maystore types of payments that a user may select. Each type of payment maybe associated with a button. Or, for example, a user may scroll througha list of payment types on a display on the front of the card (e.g.,using buttons to scroll through the list).

Any number of reader communication devices may be included inarchitecture 150. For example, IC chip 152 may be included tocommunicate information to an IC chip reader. IC chip 152 may be, forexample, an EMV chip. As per another example, RFID 151 may be includedto communicate information to an RFID reader.

A magnetic stripe communications device may also be included tocommunicate information to a magnetic stripe reader. Such a magneticstripe communications device may provide electromagnetic signals to amagnetic stripe reader. Different electromagnetic signals may becommunicated to a magnetic stripe reader to provide different tracks ofdata. For example, electromagnetic field generators 170, 180, and 185may be included to communicate separate tracks of information to amagnetic stripe reader. Such electromagnetic field generators mayinclude a coil wrapped around one or more materials (e.g., asoft-magnetic material and a non-magnetic material). Eachelectromagnetic field generator may communicate information serially toa receiver of a magnetic stripe reader for a particular magnetic stripetrack.

Read-head detectors 171 and 172 may be utilized to sense the presence ofa magnetic stripe reader (e.g., a read-head housing of a magnetic stripereader). This sensed information may be communicated to processor 120 tocause processor 120 to communicate information serially fromelectromagnetic generators 170, 180, and 185 to magnetic stripe trackreceivers in a read-head housing of a magnetic stripe reader.Accordingly, a magnetic stripe communications device may change theinformation communicated to a magnetic stripe reader at any time.Processor 120 may, for example, communicate user-specific andcard-specific information through RFID 151, IC chip 152, andelectromagnetic generators 170, 180, and 185 to card readers coupled toremote information processing servers (e.g., purchase authorizationservers). Driving circuitry 141 may be utilized by processor 120, forexample, to control electromagnetic generators 170, 180, and 185.

FIG. 2 shows card 200 that includes button 211 associated with display215, button 212 associated with display 216, and button 213 associatedwith display 217. Each button may be associated with a feature displayedin display 210. A user may press a button in order to communicate datarepresentative of the feature through a magnetic stripe communicationsdevice or other communications device (e.g., RFID or IC chip). A lightemitting diode (or other source of light) may be associated with eachbutton to indicate to a user what feature was selected by a user.

A user may be able to select multiple features such that multiplefeature codes are communicated in tracks of magnetic stripe datacommunicated by a magnetic stripe communications device. Such codes maybe provided in discretionary data fields. Such codes may be repeated oneach track of communicated magnetic stripe data (e.g., repeated ontracks 1 and 2 or repeated on tracks 1, 2, and 3). In doing so, a usermay associate multiple features to a purchase. A user may set that apurchase be automatically paid regularly by, for example, pressingbutton 211 for a purchase transaction. A user may press button 212 toset that a purchase for installment payment under one installment plan(e.g., 3 equal installments). Button 213 may allow a user to set that apurchase for installment payment under another installment plan (e.g., 6equal installments).

The features associated with each card may be pre-determined by a user.For example, a user may select features to place on a card when orderinga card. Additionally, a user may go to a card issuer's website andselect attributes of features. For example, a user may visit a cardissuer's website and select the particular offering that is to bepurchased whenever a user selects the feature associated with button 211and displayed on display 215.

Information associated with a button may be displayed via a display orpermanently printed, embossed, or laser engraved on a card. Card 200 mayinclude a light sensing device to receive information via light pulsesfrom a display (e.g., a television, mobile phone, or laptop display). Auser may select to change the features or attributes of features from acard issuer's website and may reconfigure a card accordingly.Alternatively, a card may be provided with buttons and no descriptiveinformation. A user may change the features or attributes of featuresassociated with one or more buttons via a card issuer's website andremote processing may perform the associated processing as a result ofon-card button selections.

Different codes may be communicated depending on the feature orattributes of features on a card. Such codes may be changed via awireless communications signal (e.g., a light-based communicationssignal). In doing so, processing may occur off-card at a remote serverwithout the need to determine what feature a user associated with acode. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a card issuer maymonitor the frequency and number of times that a user utilizes aparticular feature. Additionally, the card may receive wirelesscommunications signals (e.g., WiFi signals) associated with themodifications and additions).

FIG. 3 shows card 300 that may include dynamic magnetic stripecommunications device 310, buttons 311-315, permanent information 320,display 350, data receiving device 370, and buttons 331-333. Button 331may be associated with a first line of displayed information on display350. Button 332 may be associated with a second line of displayedinformation on display 350. Button 333 may be associated with a thirdline of displayed information on display 350. Persons skilled in the artwill appreciate that buttons 331-333 may actually be virtual buttons ondisplay 350 and display 350 may be a capacitive touch screen.

Data receiving device 370 may be a light or sound sensor for receivinginformation through received light or sound. Portion 399 may bedisplayed on display 350. The first line of portion 399 may beassociated with button 331 and may, for example, cause a code to becommunicated (e.g., with magnetic stripe data for authorizing a purchasetransaction) to a magnetic stripe reader that is associated with auser's desire to initiate an overlimit feature. Persons skilled in theart will appreciate that a user's transaction may be declined foroverdrawing from the user's credit account (or other account). A usermay utilize an overlimit feature to use such an overdrafted account foran additional fee. In this manner, selecting such a feature may allow apreviously declined purchase transaction to be authorized and anoverlimit feature fee be placed on the account.

The second line of portion 399 may be associated with, for example,button 332 of display 350 and may be a pay bill feature. A pay billfeature may cause any outstanding bill for a user's account to be paid.Accordingly, a user does not have to log into his/her online account (ormail a check) to authorize payment of an outstanding bill.

The third line of portion 399 may be utilized for a user to select analert update feature. A card may be provided to a user with knowledge ofwhen a bill payment is due for a user (and/or when a statement posts).An internal clock may keep track of these events and notify a user ofsuch events. A user may select an update alert to, for example, receiveinformation via a communications channel (e.g., via light pulses)associated with an alert. Such an update may, for example,re-synchronize the internal clock of a card (e.g., to remove any timingerrors accumulated by the timing circuitry of the card). An alert may beprovided, for example, if a user overdrafts from a particular account.

FIG. 4 shows card 400 that may include signature line 410 and display420. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that card 300 of FIG. 3may depict the obverse side of a card and card 400 of FIG. 4 may depictthe reverse side of a card. Individual components of card 300 of FIG. 3or card 400 of FIG. 4 may be provided on either side of a card or bothsides of a card. More than one instance of a component may be providedon any side of a card (e.g., the same side as a component or a differentside as a component). Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that auser may communicate feature codes representative of a user's on-cardselection via codes that may be displayed visually and entered into awebpage as part of an online payment.

A display may display not only a code for an online payment, but alsoindicia representative of the feature. In doing so, the user can confirmthat the right feature was selected. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that different codes for the same feature may be displayedand communicated via a dynamic magnetic communications device. In doingso, the security of the card may be increased. Additionally, the same ordifferent codes may be communicated on different tracks of data torepresent the selection of a particular feature. A code may be utilized,for example, to communicate information about an installment plan a userdesires to initiate for a purchase.

FIG. 5 shows mobile device 500, which may be a mobile telephonic device.Device 500 may include one or more physical buttons (e.g., button 540).Device 500 may include one or more display screens 510. Such a displayscreen may be touch sensitive such that virtual buttons (e.g., button530) may be provided on virtual card 520. Virtual card 520 may appearsimilar to a physical card described herein. A user may select differentvirtual cards by, for example, swiping his/her finger across atouch-sensitive display to scroll to the next virtual card. Mobile phone502 may include a communications device operable to communicate data toa card reader. For example, mobile phone 502 may include an RFID antennato communicate to an RFID reader, a pop-out IC chip panel operable to befed into an IC chip reader, or a magnetic communications device having amagnetic emulator operable to communicate magnetic stripe datawirelessly to a read-head of a magnetic stripe reader. Virtual button530 may be provided to indicate a user's desire for a regular pay optionfor a purchase. Virtual button 531 may be provided to indicate a user'sdesire for an installment pay option for a purchase. Virtual button 532may be provided to indicate a user's desire for a rewards points payoption for a purchase.

FIG. 6 shows mobile device 600, which may be a mobile telephonic devicehaving executable applications that may be used by a user to conduct afinancial transaction. Alternately, mobile device 600 may optionally belinked to a card issued to the user of mobile device 600. In eitherinstance, the user may have previously requested (e.g., at cardissuance) to receive confirmation messages during the course of anyfinancial transaction.

A user may, for example, choose at the point of sale to finance apurchase with rewards points. Confirmatory message 604 may be received(e.g., via text messaging) by mobile device 600. In so doing, a user mayhave an opportunity to confirm the pending transaction using theoriginally selected payment option (e.g., by selecting the appropriatebutton 602). Conversely, the user may have an opportunity to overridethe user's original payment option selection by selecting an alternatepayment option (e.g., installment pay or regular pay).

FIG. 7 shows mobile device 700. Message 702 may be displayed as a resultof the user's original request to finance a pending transaction using aninstallment payment plan. A confirmation message (e.g., text message702) may then be displayed to allow the user to confirm that a defaultnumber of installment payments (e.g., 3) is acceptable. Alternately, theuser may be given the opportunity to override the default selection byselecting a different number of installments (e.g., 6 or 9installments).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that users may define howconfirmatory messaging may be conducted. In particular, a user may havean opportunity to visit a card issuer's website to select the user'sconfirmatory messaging preferences. For example, a user may simply optout of confirmatory messaging. Alternately, a user may wish to opt intoconfirmatory messaging and may further define options associated withsuch messaging (e.g., always confirm with a default selection and a listof available options that may be selected instead of the defaultselection). Accordingly, a user may be able to customize a level ofinteraction at the point of sale via his or her confirmatory messagingpreferences.

FIG. 8 shows mobile device 800. Message 802 may be displayed as a resultof a targeted advertisement that may be sent (e.g., via text messaging)subsequent to a purchase. For example, message 802 may first confirmthat a purchase of gasoline was transacted using a user's card orapplication-enabled mobile device. A promotion may be offered by theproduct supplier (e.g., gasoline supplier) and/or the product vendor(e.g., gasoline station) that results in targeted advertisement 802.Accordingly, the user may be informed of rewards that may be earned as aresult of continued patronage.

Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the presentinvention is not limited to only the embodiments described. Instead, thepresent invention more generally involves dynamic information. Personsskilled in the art will also appreciate that the apparatus of thepresent invention may be implemented in other ways than those describedherein. All such modifications are within the scope of the presentinvention, which is limited only by the claims that follow.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A mobile device, comprising: acommunications device operable to communicate transaction data to a cardreader; and a display operable to display a virtual button, the virtualbutton operable to include option data in the transaction data, theoption data associated with at least one option, wherein the at leastone option is not a selection to immediately pay for a transactionassociated with said communicated transaction data via one or moreaccounts.
 2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the option data isassociated with an installment plan.
 3. The mobile device of claim 1,wherein the option data is associated with a default number of periodicpayments.
 4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the option data isassociated with a user determined number of payments.
 5. The mobiledevice of claim 1, wherein the option data is associated with a pay billfeature.
 6. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising aprocessor.
 7. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising: aprocessor; and an integrated circuit (IC) chip.
 8. The mobile device ofclaim 1, further comprising: a processor; and a radio frequencyidentification (RFID).
 9. The mobile device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a pop-out IC (Integrated Circuit) chip panel; and a radiofrequency identification (RFID) antenna, wherein the communicationdevice is a magnetic communications device.
 10. The mobile device ofclaim 1, further comprising a clock.
 11. The mobile device of claim 1,further comprising: a light associated with the virtual button; and adisplay.
 12. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the communicationdevice is a wireless communication device.
 13. The mobile device ofclaim 1, further comprising a sound sensor.
 14. The card of claim 1,further comprising a light sensor.
 15. The card of claim 1, wherein thevirtual button is operable to include the option data in a discretionaryfield of track data.
 16. A mobile device, comprising: a communicationsdevice operable to communicate transaction data to a card reader; and adisplay operable to display a virtual button, the virtual buttonoperable to include option data in the transaction data, wherein theoption data includes a code associated with server instructions to payan outstanding bill of a user.
 17. A mobile device, comprising: acommunications device operable to communicate transaction data to a cardreader; and a display operable to display a virtual button, the virtualbutton operable to include option data in the transaction data, whereinthe option data includes a code associated with server instructions topay a current credit card bill of a user.
 18. A mobile device,comprising: a communications device operable to communicate transactiondata to a card reader; and a display operable to display a virtualbutton, the virtual button operable to include option data in thetransaction data, wherein the option data includes a code associatedwith a request for authorization of a transaction associated with anoverdrafted account.
 19. A mobile device, comprising: a communicationsdevice operable to communicate transaction data to a card reader; and adisplay operable to display a virtual button, the virtual buttonoperable to include option data in the transaction data, wherein theoption data includes a code associated with server instructions toperiodically bill a user for a transaction.
 20. The A mobile device,comprising: a communications device operable to communicate transactiondata to a card reader; and a display operable to display a virtualbutton, the virtual button operable to include option data in thetransaction data, wherein the option data includes a code associatedwith a request to a server to authorize a declined transaction.